therookery

FORM: sending crystal
SENDER: Seneschal Salvio Pizzicagnolo
RECIPIENT: everyone and anyone, but especially anyone not in Tevinter
WHAT: two words: magical texting
WHEN: now!
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: read up on the The Emergent Compendium for more general info, or the ooc post for faderifty info!

Hello. This is-- Salvio Pizzicagnolo. Seneschal Pizzicagnolo. [And for once he's sounding almost normal. Dare we even say... excited?] Seneschal to the Inquisition's base in Kirkwall and Head of Base Operations.

Recently the Inquisition has come into the possession--or, well, we will come into the possession--of some texts. A result of the negotiations, with the-- [You know what, who cares, the less strikes and mages and rifters and the Chantry are brought into this, the better, all that would only sour the news, and so Salvio revises what he is saying midway through the sentence.] In cataloging and examining the list of texts that will be added to the Inquisition's library, I have discovered an extremely rare text: The Emergent Compendium.

It, um--the text, that is--the text is likely unknown, to most--I have only seen passing reference to it, in other works and--well, to quote Scholar Bodaliere, [and in a voice of one reading right from a page] "the volumes are automatos: new entries appear of their own accord, with no scrivener's quill in sight".

Yes. So. I, I wrote directly to request access to the Compendium, and-- and I have had it for some time now, and--by the Maker, it produces pictures that appear and then disappear, out of nowhere, accessing some--some vast, unseen library, or--ah, and text, it will produce lines of text, obscure in their--well, so, I would invite those who would wish to behold it to do so, but--please, within the office hours of Base Operations, and I would suggest that you wear gloves--

But, um, in addition to viewing the Compendium, I have-- I have taken the liberty of making some... some rudimentary copies of the Compendium. Imitations, I mean. What connects the original to its unseen library or author, I cannot say, so the copies, they-- they are connected to one another instead.

It was, um. Premature, perhaps, uh, presumptuous, but--they seem to be operational. I have tested them. You can write back and forth, as if sending a letter, but much, much quicker. Of course, they are but test copies. They are limited in that they will only function within the walls of the Gallows, once they are outside of the Gallows, the connection severs, and they become as plain writing-books, but--

Um. To those members of the Inquisition that remain in Kirkwall--I, that is, Base Operations, requests your current assistance in the testing of these books. Your assistance will be invaluable in refining this, um, this development in communication, streamlining the process of-- communication.

If you are interested, and are in Kirkwall. Please, the Base Operations office--I mean to say that I will be in the Base Operations office. Handing out these texts.

Yes. So. That will be-- uh. Thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[In his notes, Salvio underlines mage. He remains apprehensive of Rifters, and often apprehensive of his fellow Theodosian mages, at least the ones who are more outspoken and demonstrative and somehow universally attracted to the Inquisition. Perhaps in this case, Rifter apprehension and mage apprehension will cancel one another out.]

A quill, that wr... [Mumbling to himself, as he makes notes.] There are methods of invisible inks. I don't--personally have experience, of course, but I have heard, er, read of... A quill that would write as you speak sounds useful. Saves the hand from-- uh, what--or, how, I mean--does that lead to gossip? In--your experience?

[Probably both of Salvio's apprehensions will increase dramatically once Newt makes his fondness for strange and dangerous creatures (especially dragons and his desire to meet one here) known. But that is a potential heart attack for a later day, hopefully.]

Generally speaking, those sorts of quills have minds of their own.

Useful for gossip columnists.

[Yes, fondness for dragons will solidly cement the apprehension, what the shit, Rifters]

Oh. I had thought--well, in my work with the previous seneschal as assistant, I often-- his hand would trouble him, after writing, and I thought that--

[what]

"A mind of their own" meaning the quills, would... design rumors of their own?

[Good thing Newt is long used to people thinking him strange, even back home. He hardly expects his reputation here, given that he arrived falling through a Rift, to be any different.]

It's a good thought.

But items like this never quite work the way we want them to, in my experience.

Something like that. They're rather prone to...exaggeration, is the best way to put it, I think.

That is--an interesting puzzle.

From where do the words come, if-- The quills must have a source. As the Compendium has its library, vast and unseen. The quills have no mind, they would need-- the words to be fed. Given, to them.

This is what you mean, that items do not work the way you want?

Honestly, I don't know. My best guess is that they take after the personality of the one writing with them. It's something I've considered looking into, back home.

Yes, exactly that.

[Salvio might not be able to see Newt's wry grin but he can probably hear it in his words.]

Which is what I would expect from these books, although, given from what I understand of them, that will be the people writing in them, not the books themselves.

[You never know, though.]

[The concept of an enchanted item taking on the personality of the person using it begs the suggestion, what if it is the other way, and the person is taking on the personality of the item, because the item is imbued with some sort of demon, and it becomes entirely too difficult to think of this, and so Salvio puts his head down on his table for a moment.

The little grin in Newt's voice is somewhat helpful to pull him out of it. At least it is distracting enough that Salvio lifts his head up, to sigh. Quietly, and a little sadly.]

Yes. I expect that you are correct. I suppose-- any writing will be useful. As a test. And more formal uses will come later.

Hopefully.

[At some point Newt will buy this poor man a drink out of sympathy; he isn't completely helpless at being nice to people who aren't magical creatures.

Still, that doesn't prevent him from saying what he does next.]

And I'm sure no one here would ever dream of using these books inappropriately, of course.

[He's fully expecting mischief, himself. And kind of looking forward to it. But he definitely keeps that to himself.]

It will be interesting to see how these books develop. They seem like they'll be an asset for the Inquisition.

Ha, [Salvio says, somewhat sadly. The thought of no one using the books inappropriately is not funny, but it seems the thing he is expected to say in this moment, so he says it.

He's no fool. He's seen the posters. The complaint box, with its falsehoods. Inappropriate use is a given, but he is resigned or it. Sort of.]

I do hope they prove an asset. Eventually. Once the novelty has, uh-- I mean to say once they have been tested. In their novelty. People might then see the practicality to them. I suppose that is the wish of every-- well, I did not, uh. I only imitated.

But all the same.

[That might just be the saddest 'ha' Newt's ever heard, he thinks. This man really ought to take a vacation, if he can manage it. But does the Inquisition even grant vacations? Probably not in the face of the end of the world, no.]

I would think so. This is quite the novel technology; I would think the Inquisition will find a way to make the best use out of it.

But maybe you ought to start working on a way to write in code or secret messages, in case they fall into the wrong hands?

Ah. I would-- prefer that be left to the Scoutmaster. I, uh. My interest is in-- that is to say, my skill with a code, it is--lacking. Certainly it would not suffice to... disguise well, any message that we would send.

[A slight pause, before he hazards, with a vague hope:]

I don't suppose that you....?

[please say you're a code expert]

I don't know what I can do, given that my magic here doesn't work as well as it does back home, but I would be willing to try, if you'd like any help with any of this.

[It is a marvelous invention, and if he can help with the progress of it, Newt would like to. Perhaps he might be able to take away a bit of this poor man's stress, in the mean time.]

Oh. Yes. Of course, that is-- I had forgotten, that Rifters often experience... um-- sorry. Yes.

Uh, you can, of course, you are willing-- I mean, you are invited, if you are willing, to take one of the books, and to sample them, as everyone else. But if you find there is some special, well, anything, really, that you might note of them.

As you have some experience, at least--with items similar in nature--your opinion would be appreciated. Uh--thank you.

[#nailed it]

Of course. I can take notes and give them to you once I've done some experimenting.

I don't know how much help they'll be but.

Anything would of course be helpful. Your assistance--it is appreciated. And it will be remembered.

I'm glad to be of assistance for something like this.

04.

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